trial balance

American  

noun

Bookkeeping.

1. a statement of all the open debit and credit items, made preliminary to balancing a double-entry ledger.

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trial balance British  

noun

1. accounting a statement of all the debit and credit balances in the ledger of a double-entry system, drawn up to test their equality

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Etymology

Origin of trial balance

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

These influences cannot yet be weighed and known—not until account has been taken of all the factors in the world's life problem, the grand totals cast up and the trial balance made.

From Studies in the Poetry of Italy, I. Roman by Miller, Frank Justus

Wishing to discuss some points in the trial balance of the receiver's accountant, Harwood entered and found Bassett with his hat on, slowly pacing the floor.

From A Hoosier Chronicle by Yohn, F. C. (Frederick Coffay)

It is the great trial balance of life, which one would rather defer as long as is expedient than make prematurely.

From Atlantis by Seltzer, Adele Szold

The Batavian Republic now could make up a little trial balance.

From The Rise of the Dutch Kingdom 1795-1813 by Van Loon, Hendrik Willem

A trial balance is thus no very adequate safeguard against fraud, nor does it bring to light mistakes in the monetary value attaching to the various transactions recorded.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Slice 2 "Bohemia" to "Borgia, Francis" by Various